Peru Symposium Itinerary

Thursday, February 14, 2008 - Cusco / Sacred Valley of the Incas

We recommend an early flight from Lima to Cusco. Air fare is not included in the fee. Assistance at the airport and drive to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visit-ing on route the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which covers an area of 3,000 hectares, two kilometers north of Cusco. The site is considered unique in the world due to its singular architectural characteristics.

Lunch at Sol y Luna Hotel, Pachamanca style, while enjoying a Peruvian Pracing horse exhibition. After lunch you will enjoy a weaving show where the techniques of traditional weaving are preserved. Have a private demonstration in which you can match weavers from associated villages as they demonstrate their skills, most have been specially selected by Nilda Callanaupa, one of the Centre's finest weavers. The local weaving techniques have remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

Drive to the "Sacred Valley of the Incas" to visit Ollantaytambo Fortress The site, and the town of the same name, is a must-see amongst the many sites of interest along the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley runs along the banks of the Urubamba or, in Quechua, "Wilcamayu" River.

Visit Pisac, the Inca religious site, above the town, boasts Imperial architecture, walking around the town provides an insight into life in the Andes today. Enjoy the typical market of Pisac. Dinner and overnight at Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel - Urubamba.

Friday, February 15, 2008 - Machu Picchu

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Then we will transfer you to the rail station to board the train to Machu Picchu. When arriving at Aguas Calientes, you will take a 25-minute motor-coach ride to "The Lost City of the Incas” Machu Picchu, Inca Pa-chacutec’s 15C AD masterpiece of environmental architecture, is now a Historic and Natural - and some say spiritual Sanctuary. In 1911, local farmer Melchor Arteaga showed U.S. archaeologist Hiram Bingham, the only path to the fabled site, then cov-ered by overgrown cloud forest. This morning you have a choice of five different ways to get to the “Lost City of the Incas”: *UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lunch at Sanctuary Lodge Orient Express Hotel.

In the afternoon return to Cusco by train. Upon arrival, transfer to Casa Andina Pri-vate Collection Hotel - Cusco.

Dinner at Fallen & Angel restaurant; a funky and artistic café.

Saturday, February 16, 2008 - Cusco

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will have a more personal and spontaneous discovery of the Inca and Colonial heritage, the cosmopolitan and the traditional life, of this city of contrasts, founded in the 14th Century by Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, the Children of the Sun. One of the most important construction is the impressive co-lonial cathedral in Cusco that contains over 400 paintings from the Cusqueña School and a number of altars, in addition to the colonial art that is housed here. The Cathedral of Cusco was originally built inside the Inca structure of the Suntur Wasi (currently the Church of El Triunfo). Years later, the Cathedral was ordered to be rebuilt in the Kiswarcancha (Palace of Inca Wiracocha). After that we go on to visit the Temple of the Sun, the main religious centre of the Incas and dedicated to the Sun Cult. It was one of the most worshiped and respected temples of the city. "The gold precinct", as it was known, was a sacred place where people venerated the maximum Inca god: the INTI. For that reason, people could only get there fasting, barefooted and with some load on their backs as a sign of humility, in compliance with the indications of the main priest "Wilaq Umuo". After to have known about the Cusco colonial,we will proceed to the south area surrounding Cusco at Tipon, a beautiful complex of agricultural terraces, long stairs and stone canals. The terraces and aqueducts were built well over 500 years ago by the Incas, but are still used today for agricultural purposes. Your next stop will be the colonial church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas. The most important attraction for the visitors is its church: San Pedro de Andahuaylillas considered as the "Sistine Chapel" of America due to the quality of its art pieces. Built at the beginning of VII century, the interior of the temple is decorated with murals performed by Luis Riaño ( XVII century) representing the path to glory and the path to hell. He was also said to be the author of the low borders of the wall and an important oil painting of the archangel San Miguel. Besides, this church holds a majestic piano, numerous canvases of the Academy of Cusco, silver work and baroque altars.

Despite of having quite modest architecture, the decoration of its inner parts is the most impressive of this religious site as it holds a never seen before collection of the Acade-my of Cusco. It represents the life of San Pedro with marvelous golden frames.

Lunch at Casa Mayor Restaurant. Afternoon at leisure to shop Peruvian handcrafts along the Plaza de Armas (main square) or discover the thousand magical treasures Cusco has to offer.

Farewell cocktails and dinner in the Monasterio Orient Express Hotel, voted best hotel in South America by Conde Nast magazine.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 - Cusco

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for domestic departures to Lima or enjoy post tours to other destinations in Peru.

Please note that this itinerary is subject to change without notice.